Europa League Draw: Sunderland, Bournemouth Get Milan; Palace Face Lyon

Sunderland will make their long-awaited return to European competition with a visit to the San Siro after being drawn against seven-time European champions AC Milan in the Europa League league phase.

The Black Cats, who qualified by finishing seventh in the Premier League last season, will face the Italian giants in one of their eight group-stage matches. It marks Sunderland’s first European campaign since 1973.

Among Sunderland’s four away fixtures is a trip to Portuguese side Torreense, who are making their European debut after shocking Sporting CP in the Portuguese Cup final in May. However, Torreense will play their home matches 193 miles away at the Estadio Algarve in Faro, as their 2,500-capacity stadium in Torres Vedras does not meet UEFA requirements.

Bournemouth, competing in European football for the first time in their history, have also been drawn against AC Milan — though the Cherries will host the Italian club on home soil. Their eight-match schedule also includes a meeting with Real Sociedad.

Last season’s Conference League winners Crystal Palace face what is arguably the toughest draw among the three Premier League sides, with fixtures against Lyon, Real Sociedad and Besiktas. The Eagles are competing in the Europa League for the first time, having been demoted from last season’s competition due to multi-club ownership violations.

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, who dropped into the Europa League after squandering a four-goal lead against LASK in the Champions League play-off, will take on Marseille, Benfica and Besiktas.

In the Conference League, Brighton will face AS Monaco and Spanish side Getafe, while Hearts have also been drawn against Monaco and will travel to Trabzonspor, where Mohamed Salah currently plays.

The Europa League final is scheduled for 26 May in Frankfurt, with the Conference League final taking place six days later in Istanbul.

Europa League Fixtures

Sunderland: AZ Alkmaar (h), AC Milan (a), GNK Dinamo (h), Anderlecht (a), Jagiellonia (h), Lech Poznan (a), Levski Sofia (h), Torreense (a)

Bournemouth: AC Milan (h), Real Sociedad (a), Viktoria Plzen (h), Sparta Praha (a), Sturm Graz (h), Celta Vigo (a), Hapoel Be’er Sheva (h), Lillestrom (a)

Crystal Palace: Real Sociedad (h), Lyon (a), Sparta Praha (h), Salzburg (a), Lech Poznan (h), Jagiellonia (a), Hoffenheim (h), Besiktas (a)

Celtic: Marseille (h), Benfica (a), Ferencvaros (h), Union SG (a), Celta Vigo (h), Omonia (a), Besiktas (h), Torreense (a)

Conference League Fixtures

Brighton: Monaco (h), Panathinaikos (a), Craiova (h), Getafe (a), Kauno Zalgiris (h), Jablonec (a)

Hearts: Monaco (h), Pafos (a), Borac (h), Trabzonspor (a), Nordsjaelland (h), Thun (a)